Grass mother and stepmother indications for use. Coltsfoot. Its medicinal properties and uses. Special properties of the plant
Humanity uses medicinal plants more time than it does farming. Before the emergence of a developed chemical industry, it was plant life forms that were the main source of medicines.
But, even in our time, it is believed that drugs obtained naturally are much more beneficial for the body than those synthesized artificially.
One of the most common human diseases are diseases of the lower respiratory tract - bronchi and lungs. The coltsfoot plant is traditionally used in folk medicine in the treatment of these diseases.
Introduction
The choice of recipes for various remedies from coltsfoot is quite large. Usually, they are used as a side therapy for colds, however, their use is not limited to this. Among different peoples living in the habitat of this species, its use could sometimes differ significantly.
coltsfoot during flowering
In addition to medicinal properties, coltsfoot is one of the most popular honey plants.. The honey obtained from it has good taste characteristics. Also, like a honey plant, coltsfoot has significant advantages.
Firstly, an acceptable yield of both nectar and pollen is obtained from it, and secondly, due to its unpretentiousness, it can occupy large areas, that is, ensure mass collection.
Biological description
Botanically, coltsfoot is a perennial herbaceous shrub., which are a monotypic representative of the Astrov family. This means that such a species is unique in the entire family. Indeed, the structure of the plant is such that it is unlike any other.
The flowering part of the coltsfoot has a large number of small flowers yellow color collected in inflorescences-baskets. A feature of the plant is that its flowering occurs in early spring, at the same time, it occurs before the appearance of leaves.
But the unique properties of this herb do not end there. Its leaves have a completely different structure, which even leads to the appearance various conditions microclimate in different parts sheet. On the underside, the coltsfoot leaf is covered with many small villus hairs.
This leads to the fact that the evaporation of liquid from the lower surface of the sheet occurs very slowly, one might say, does not occur at all. At the same time, as from a smooth upper surface, especially when exposed to sunlight, evaporation proceeds at a much faster rate.
Evaporating moisture causes a significant cooling of the upper part of the sheet, while the lower part remains relatively warm. Sometimes the temperature gradient between the top and bottom of the coltsfoot leaf can reach 3°C. The lower side, which is warmer, was popularly called “mother”, and the upper, colder side was called “stepmother”.
Flowers along with the leaves that have already appeared
However, this plant has other names. Among them you can find the following:
- one-sided
- Kamchuzhnaya grass
- double leaf
Moreover, sometimes coltsfoot under these names will be found in quite official sources. In translation from Latin coltsfoot's official name means "herb that expels coughs".
The plant is very widespread in Eurasia. From the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to Western Siberia, it can be found at any latitude - from the Mediterranean Sea to Murmansk. However, the range of the coltsfoot, although it has a fairly large area, is not continuous.
For example, in Ukraine, it is not found throughout the Dnieper lowland, although it is present in almost the entire rest of the territory. A similar picture is observed in Scandinavia, and in Eastern Europe, and in middle lane, and in the Urals. Scientists cannot yet give an explanation for such a “spotted area” of a monotypic plant.
In addition, coltsfoot has a certain selectivity for soil types. For example, it is almost always found in areas where there is no turf and sod land.
For a mother and stepmother, there is nothing better than various slopes of ravines or steep river banks. There are frequent cases of the appearance of a plant in places of violent human activity - wastelands, landfills, agricultural land, even landfills and abandoned industries.
wild field coltsfoot
The plant's dislike for sod land implies that clay soils plant are preferred. And it's like this: coltsfoot grows best on clay soils.
However, if the seeds of a plant fall into more or less favorable conditions, even on “uncomfortable”, sandy soils, it can grow to a huge colony due to its unpretentiousness.
The plant blooms in mid-April, after about a month the first leaves appear. The plant has a very powerful root system. The root of the plant is long and branched. The top of the root is dotted with many buds. In the spring, two types of shoots are formed from them. First - shoots of peduncles, later - shoots of leaves.
Generative plant stems
Moreover, this does not mean that the flowers are devoid of leaves at all. Flowering or generative shoots are covered with small ovate leaves along their entire length. They are brown in color and sometimes very similar to scales.
The coltsfoot flower is very complex in structure and consists of many small flowers of the female and bisexual types, collected in two rings relative to the center. In total, there can be several hundred small flowers in the inflorescence.
flower close up
The fruits of the coltsfoot are achenes with parachutes, that is, they are very similar to the fruits of an ordinary dandelion. After the fruits are ripe, the generative shoots die off, they dry out, and around this time the seeds are shed from the dried peduncle.
The medicinal use of the plant is due to the set of chemical components that make up the leaves.. The leaves of the plant can be up to 20 cm in diameter. They have long, hard petioles and teeth along the edges. Usually on a bush the number of leaves and flowers is approximately the same.
The leaves are collected in the spring, when the concentration of the necessary medicinal substances in the plant is maximum. This usually happens when the veins on the leaf turn reddish-brown.
Growing a plant
Despite the fact that most of the collection of leaves for medical purposes is done in nature, sometimes there are enthusiasts who grow coltsfoot in private.
Also, beekeepers often grow this plant, since the coltsfoot not only gives high-quality honey, but is also one of the earliest flowering honey plants. Traditionally, some abandoned areas or wastelands are used for these purposes, since the plant is quite unpretentious.
Reproduction of the plant is equally well done by both seed and vegetative methods.. Particularly popular is the division of the rhizome.
Due to the absence of a special negative effect on the soil, as well as due to its good adaptability to almost any conditions, coltsfoot can grow for decades in the same place in the garden without transplanting.
In this case, it may even be necessary to limit the growth rate of the plant, since it reproduces extremely well and quickly captures large areas.
The plant does best in partial shade, but can also grow in full sun. But the shadow does not really suit him.
It is believed that this plant does well without care., therefore, no one dealt with the issues of its cultivation, and, as a result, selection. Everyone is satisfied with its current state. However, the reaction of this herb to fertilizers is quite indicative, which makes it possible to achieve a high rate of its reproduction in the first 1-2 years of cultivation.
Preference is given to organic fertilizers, which are recommended to be applied once a year at the end of autumn to the location of the plants. These can be: compost, humus or bird droppings diluted with water at a concentration of 1 to 20.
Watering the plant is necessary only in excessively hot weather. while making sure that moisture does not get on the outer part of the leaves. Also, the plant does not need loosening, hilling or mulching the soil. The existing opinion that a plant can only exist near open sources of water does not hold water - even bindweed or mallow will envy the drought resistance of the coltsfoot.
Propagation by vegetative means is very simple.- the daughter root is separated from the mother in the middle of spring and transplanted to a new place. Already at the end of the next season, a large colony of plants is formed at the place of its planting, consisting of about a couple of dozen flowers and 2-3 daughter roots of the next generation.
In addition, do not be surprised if plants begin to sprout in all corners of the garden, similar to coltsfoot, but somewhat more miniature. This is the result of self-seeding of the plant.
Small seedlings ripen about three years before they start blooming. At the beginning, they will form a powerful root system and a sufficient number of generative and vegetative buds will appear.
Collection, preparation and storage of leaves
It is believed that not only the leaves, but also the flowers of the plant have medicinal properties. Flowers are harvested already in early May, and the time of collection of leaves may vary depending on the weather.
The collection of leaves can be extended in time for a rather significant period - from early May to mid-July. At the same time, the concentration of medicinal substances in the plant remains maximum until the beginning of August.
Leaves are collected on sunny days.. The leaf is cut from the outlet along with a petiole about 4-5 cm long. If the collection is made in wild nature, plants growing near the roadway or man-made buildings should be avoided. It is best to retire somewhere far away from such objects; modern herbalists recommend distances of at least a kilometer.
Collection of flowers
Leaves must be dried before use.. This is done under a canopy, in the attic or in a ventilated room. The main requirement for drying is the absence of precipitation and high humidity.
The leaves are laid on a flat surface in one layer and once a day they are turned over to the opposite side. This procedure helps to avoid bedsores and decay. Dried leaves need to be crushed a little - this will provide more comfortable and convenient storage.
An alternative is to use special dryers with a temperature of about 40-50°C when drying the leaves. With their help, you can reduce the drying process to 1-2 days.
Dried ingredients should be stored in cloth bags or cardboard boxes. Sealed storage in glass jars. At the same time, it is desirable to attach a label to each box, bag or container, indicating the place and time of its collection. Shelf life of dried coltsfoot is 2 to 3 years.
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Healing properties of coltsfoot
The leaves of the coltsfoot contain the following components:
- glycosides
- tannin
- sterols
- carotenoids
- tannins
The leaves also contain vitamin C, its concentration is 250 mg per 100 g of raw product.
The pharmacological action of the plant consists mainly in a pronounced expectorant effect., which is a consequence of the large number of components of the mucus contained in its leaves.
In the lower respiratory tract, in addition to expectoration, coltsfoot also restores the normal activity of the ciliary epithelium of the bronchi and trachea. In addition, it has a mild anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and diaphoretic effect.
Application area
The use of coltsfoot has been indicated as maintenance therapy for a range of conditions various systems body:
With pathological processes in the upper respiratory tract. Traditionally, the effect of coltsfoot is used as an anti-inflammatory and facilitating sputum discharge. In addition, due to the mucus components contained in the preparations of the plant, the inflamed surfaces are enveloped and softened. Herbal infusions are used for throat diseases - tonsillitis and tonsillitis, as well as other diseases of the respiratory organs - pleurisy, laryngitis, pneumonia, etc. In non-disseminated forms of pulmonary tuberculosis, leaf tinctures are recommended for use at the final stage of a course of antibiotics.
In case of damage to the digestive organs. Since the infusions and decoctions of the plant have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects, they can help in the treatment of gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Sometimes an infusion of coltsfoot is recommended for violations of the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.
Various urinary tract infections. These include cystitis, pyelonephritis, and others.
For children over two years old, coltsfoot also helps to cope with diathesis and other manifestations of allergic reactions. In this case, you can use powder from crushed leaves for external influence on the affected area, or use the herbal infusion orally.
Very often the plant is used for various inflammations of the mucous membranes. oral cavity. This also includes numerous dental diseases. Rinsing the mouth with stomatitis, dental diseases, gingivitis, etc. not only relieves inflammation and disinfects, but can also somewhat reduce pain.
It is believed that the leaves of the coltsfoot also have the ability to normalize arterial pressure, that is, they are a hypotonic agent. Some researchers are convinced that the substances contained in coltsfoot can significantly slow down the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. Leaf infusions are recommended not only for atherosclerosis, but also for heart failure and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Using a decoction of the leaves helps in the treatment of mastitis however, the plant is not recommended for use during lactation.
Healing effect. When applied externally, a decoction of coltsfoot helps fight the effects of purulent infections, the effects of acne, and furunculosis. It has a good healing effect on burns, abrasions, wounds of small and medium depth, various scratches. Usually, cotton swabs moistened with decoction are applied to the affected areas. In some cases, freshly picked leaves are applied to wounds, such as psyllium.
Therapy is limited not only to the listed methods of using the plant. Often, infusions and decoctions of coltsfoot are recommended as a general tonic in case of reduced immunity or loss of strength. A decoction of these leaves is also included in many preventive measures.
Often the plant is part of weight loss products.- mainly in the form of an auxiliary component of various teas or infusions.
Medicines
- This remedy is obtained from one tablespoon of finely chopped coltsfoot leaves, poured with 200 ml of water, brought to a boil. Next, you need to boil the infusion for 15 minutes and leave it to infuse.
- The infusion time is about 1-1.5 hours. After that, without waiting for the infusion to cool, it must be filtered through a fine sieve. In this case, about 5-10% of the liquid volume is lost. It is necessary to add the infusion to 200 ml with boiling water and let it cool.
- This remedy is used from 2 to 4 times a day in doses of 50 ml at a time.
- The infusion of the leaves is mainly used to treat colds.. And an infusion of flowers - in the treatment of diseases gastrointestinal tract and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Decoction
Decoctions are mainly used in the treatment of gastritis
The recipe for its preparation repeats the infusion considered earlier, but at the same time two tablespoons of leaves are taken, that is, the concentration is doubled.
leaf juice
- Sometimes the plant is used not only in dried form.. In some cases, it is possible to use what is called directly from the garden. At the beginning of summer, coltsfoot leaves are harvested. They are crushed on the spot, and juice is squeezed out of them. Juice can be squeezed out by any means, from manual juicers to semi-industrial automatic juicers.
- The juice will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.. Before use, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1 and brought to a boil. Boil for at least 5 minutes. Used naturally or as part of a tea. It is not recommended to take more than 30 ml of juice at one time.
- Juice and tea from coltsfoot leaves are good tonics.. They are able to improve the well-being of a person, give him vigor and relieve fatigue. However, such a tool is not recommended to be used continuously for more than 3 weeks.
- dried leaves of coltsfoot or her flowers - 20 g
- root part of marshmallow - 40 g
- licorice root - 20 g
- flower part of mullein - 10 g
- fennel (fruits) - 10 g
- dried leaf plates of coltsfoot - 5 g
- flower part of mullein - 5 g
- flower part of mallow - 10 g
- stems and leaves of thyme - 10 g
- anise fruits - 10 g
- root part of marshmallow - 10 g
- licorice root - 30 g
- dried coltsfoot leaves
- linden flowers
- willow bark
- raspberry
- dried leaves of the plant - 10 g
- root part of marshmallow - 10 g
- dried oregano - 5 g
- It is forbidden to use the plant for children under 2 years old.
- Children under 14 years of age should use these drugs under increased supervision and in case of any negative symptoms, the drugs should be discontinued. Symptoms include: rash, nausea, smell of acetone from the mouth, depression.
- It is strictly forbidden to use the drug during pregnancy or lactation.
- Do not use the plant in severe forms of liver and kidney disease.
Currently, there are about a dozen fees, which include coltsfoot
Some of them can be purchased at pharmacy points of sale, however, if there is a desire and opportunity, you can make such fees yourself.
Consider their recipes:
The collection used in acute forms of bronchitis
Components:
Application:
One tablespoon of the mixture with a slide is poured into 500 ml of chilled to room temperature boiled water. Then it is infused for two hours in a cool, shaded place. After infusion, the mixture is brought to a boil and filtered.
Expectorant collection for colds
Components:
Application:
One tablespoon of the mixture is thawed in cold water for two hours and boil similarly to the previous collection. It is used several times a day as needed, but not more than 500 ml per day to avoid allergic reactions.
Preventive collection for colds
The following components are mixed in equal proportions:
For 1.5 liters of the mixture, this amount is 10 g of each component.
Application:
A heaping tablespoon of the mixture requires 500 ml of boiling water. First, it is brewed, and then the mixture must be installed on water bath for at least 10 minutes. The decoction is strained and consumed as a tea. It can be stored in a thermos and consumed throughout the day.
Infusion of coltsfoot, linden and other herbs
Collection for diseases of the bladder and kidneys
Components:
After mixing, the mixture must be very well crushed. A tablespoon of the resulting mixture is brewed with 400 ml of boiling water and infused for no more than 15 minutes. After that, it is filtered and consumed 6 times a day with equal intervals between them. The dose is 40-70 ml per dose.
Prophylactic agents for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
High concentration agent: 15 g of dried leaves are crushed and poured into 250 ml of boiling water. In this form, the broth is left to cool on its own. After that, it is filtered and drunk during the day in equal doses of 30-350 ml.
Any drug has its limitations in use and contraindications.
Medicinal plant coltsfoot was no exception.
It cannot be used in the following cases:
Despite the fact that almost all the medicinal properties of the plant have been studied, and their effectiveness has been perfectly confirmed by practice, sometimes very unexpected phenomena occur.
Relatively recently, the unpleasant properties of pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in coltsfoot have been discovered. Basically, they are found in flowers, but they are also present in leaves. In the body of living beings, during their splitting, an intermediate chemically active compound can be formed, attacking liver proteins and damaging their structure.
The mechanism of action of these alkaloids on the human body has not yet been studied enough. Their toxicity and its consequences for the human body are currently difficult to assess. Therefore, doctors do not recommend using coltsfoot products for more than 1-1.5 months in a row.
Mother and stepmother in natural habitat
This approach means that pyrrolizidine alkaloids can theoretically accumulate in the liver. Therefore, after prolonged use of solutions and infusions from coltsfoot (and especially from her flowers), it is recommended to drink some, even the simplest course of hepatoprotectors. In the end, the liver is an unpaired organ, it should not be risked.
It should also always be remembered that the use of coltsfoot in treatment is an adjunctive therapy, and no matter how wonderful this plant is, its use will not replace a full-fledged treatment. Do not self-medicate, contact the experts!
In cosmetology, it is difficult to find a better hair product than coltsfoot. A decoction of this herb almost immediately destroys dandruff, the hair becomes strong and shiny.
The external use of preparations based on the herb helps to eliminate various skin diseases (erysipelas, ulcers and boils).
For women, podbela leaves help relieve mastitis. So is she.
Important! Tea from coltsfoot is a powerful tool for seasonal weakening of the body and beriberi.
With cystitis
Coltsfoot is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Therefore, it is advisable to use it to get rid of various ailments of the genitourinary organs. It will help relieve pain and spasms.
When you should do douching (enemas) with a decoction of recumbent grass.
- To do this, put 12 g of grass in 450 ml of water, let the mixture boil.
- The drug should be infused for about 50 minutes - during this time the temperature of the infusion will reach 37 degrees.
- Procedures are carried out daily just before going to bed.
Simultaneously with enemas, 14 ml of coltsfoot decoction should be taken three times a day.
With sinusitis
- a very unpleasant disease, which is accompanied by a constantly stuffy nose and a severe headache. To alleviate the suffering of the patient, you can use coltsfoot as follows:
- pour 6 g of grass into 170 ml of boiling water. Leave for half an hour. After that, each nostril should alternately draw in a warm solution;
- fresh juice three times a day instill 4 drops;
- make powder from dried roots. Inhale it to provoke a sneeze.
You can prepare a collection for inhalation. Place coltsfoot and eucalyptus leaves in a small saucepan. Add 470 ml of boiling water. Infuse for 20 minutes in a tightly closed container.
Pour off part of the strained broth - you need to drink it 22 ml three times a day.
Heat the rest of the broth and pour into a heating pad. Inhale the steam coming out of the hole alternately through your mouth and nose. Inhalations must be repeated every morning and evening. The duration of one procedure is from 3 to 5 minutes.
With hemorrhoids
Quite difficult to treat. Specialized, expensive drugs, permanent procedures are required. And sometimes surgery.
But there is an ancient recipe that has helped many people get rid of this disease.
- Collect at dawn.
- Grind in a wooden mortar.
- Pour an equal amount of alcoholic drink (pure moonshine).
- Put in a cool, dark place for a day.
- After that, the tool should be used to lubricate problem areas.
Improvement occurs after 7 days.
Sitz baths are good for hemorrhoids.
First you need to mix:
- coltsfoot;
- oregano and;
- inflorescences of linden and alder;
- root of wheatgrass and steelwort;
- hop cones.
All ingredients should be taken equally. For 1500 ml of boiling water you will need 22 g of the mixture. After half an hour, the mixture will be brewed and it can be diluted with 4-5 liters warm water. Stay in the bath should not be longer than 20 minutes.
Important! Alcohol tincture can cure alcoholism (even without the knowledge of the patient). To do this, add 10 drops of the drug to any drink.
With prostatitis
Refers to complex diseases, requires an integrated approach. For treatment, you can use various herbal preparations.
- underline;
- lingonberry and birch leaves;
- sage;
- goose cinquefoil;
- horsetail;
- nettle.
All herbs are taken in equal mass fractions. The mixture (12 g) must be brewed with 375 ml of boiling water. The broth must mature for at least 4 hours. Take 120 ml with food.
Mix coltsfoot with leaves and inflorescences of sweet clover, add centaury. Each herb will need 3 g. Pour the mixture with 210 ml of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes. Drink 6 times a day, 65 ml.
The course is 20-27 days. During treatment, sexual intercourse should be avoided.
With gastritis
For the treatment of gastritis, it is necessary to prepare the following decoction.
- Mix 4 g of Kamchuzhnaya grass and yarrow.
- Pour the collection of 210 ml of boiling water.
- The medicine will be infused for 55 minutes.
- Drink 1 sip before and after meals.
For another collection, you should mix equal amounts of podbel, watch, eucalyptus, nettle, chamomile and alder inflorescences, anise fruits.
Collection (13 g) pour boiling water (355 ml). The broth will take 3 hours to mature. Treatment should be continued for 32 days.
Important! Coltsfoot leaves can be a great help during picnics and hikes. Fresh grass can be used to lubricate bite sites. Or apply to the temples in case of a sharp attack of a headache.
With hypertension
Podbela decoction helps to overcome hypertension, atherosclerosis and other heart diseases. The mixture should be drunk in the morning, 65 ml.
To enhance the effect, you can make a complex collection:
- recumbent grass;
- hop;
- valerian root;
- all parts of the strawberry bush;
- calendula, viburnum, clover (inflorescences);
- mint;
- Dill seeds.
From the resulting collection should be taken 12 g, mixed with 185 ml of boiling water. The decoction should be infused throughout the night. Then drink 55 ml before each meal. You can use this medicine for a long time - up to 15 weeks.
With pharyngitis
For you should prepare a collection of 2 parts of podbel and 1 part of mint. Pour 220 ml of boiling water. Use as a rinse and inhalation solution.
- Gargle should be at least 3 times a day.
- Inhalations should be carried out 4 times a day. Each one is approximately 5 minutes long.
- Ingestion of juice three times a day helps well.
You can drink tea from the leaves of the recumbent herb with meals. To prepare 1 cup of drink, you need 6 g of raw materials.
With bruises
Most fast way to get rid of a bruise - attach a leaf with a cool side to the sore spot.
You can also crush the leaves into a gruel, fix it on a sore spot with a bandage or adhesive plaster. You can keep such a compress throughout the night.
Important! Coltsfoot should not be used for serious liver disease. Also, this herb is dangerous for children under 2 years old.
For arthritis
In case of inflammatory processes in the joints, sore spots should be wrapped with fresh leaves of reptile grass. This will help get rid of the pain.
This recipe may seem very simple for the treatment of such a complex disease. But traditional healers consider it the most effective for getting rid of arthritis.
In order to continue treatment in the cold season, it is necessary to make an alcohol tincture from the flowers of reptile grass. They should be crushed together with the stems, pour ammonia. The potion will be ready in 30 days.
After that, it can be filtered and used externally - lubricate the inflamed areas.
With varicose veins
It should be treated from the inside and outside.
To prepare a decoction of 12 g of kamchuzhnaya grass, pour 185 ml of water. Hold on low heat for 12 minutes. After a quarter of an hour, you can start taking the medicine. Use the medicine should be three times 15 ml.
For compresses, use the gruel left after filtering the broth.
With colitis
Colitis is a disease known to many. Very often traditional treatment does not bring relief. Nature has many remedies that effectively help with this disease.
- Dry the leaves of podbela.
- Grind to powder.
- Take 2 g of medicine three times a day.
- It is better to drink hot milk or honey water.
Enemas with a decoction of kamchuzhny grass flowers also help well. For 470 ml of boiling water, 23 g of raw materials are required. The medicine takes 55 minutes to infuse. After straining, dilute with water (1:4).
Collection for the treatment of colitis
- (flowers) - 20 g;
- Podbel (leaves) - 17 g:
- chamomile (inflorescences) - 9 g.
Brew 14 g of the mixture with a glass of boiling water. An hour later, you can drink 70 ml. Repeat twice more in a day.
With abscesses
For the treatment of boils the best remedy is the fresh juice of recumbent grass - lightly crush the leaves in your hands and apply to the affected area.
You can also make compresses by moistening a natural fabric in a decoction of podbel.
If abscesses are located throughout the body, baths should be taken with the addition of infusion. In 2.5 liters of boiling water, brew 55 g of grass. Then pour it into the bathing water.
Abscesses can be the result of disorders within the body. Therefore, you should prepare a medicinal tea.
- Displace mint leaves, plantain and coltsfoot for 3 g.
- Collection pour 175 ml of boiling water.
- Infuse for about a quarter of an hour.
- The resulting broth is divided into portions of 55 ml, which should be drunk during the day.
Important! Podbela-based preparations should not be taken more than 45 days a year.
If accompanied by rashes, a therapeutic bath should be prepared. It will require flowers and leaves (170 g) and boiling water (2.7 l). Infuse the decoction should be at least 4 hours. After that, warm it up a little and pour it into warm water.
It will take from 8 to 10 procedures, with a break of 2 days.
In the case of allergic asthma, it is necessary to make the following composition:
- pearl grass, licorice, pine buds - 15 g each;
- calendula, dill seeds, marshmallow, wild rosemary, string - 7 g each.
Displace, take 27 g of the collection and brew 175 ml of boiling water. Cook in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. After infusion (45 minutes) and straining, add water to the original volume. Take 45 ml several times a day.
With pyelonephritis
Cope with will help coltsfoot in combination with honey.
- Place a mixture of 6 g of herbs and 185 ml of boiling water in a water bath.
- After boiling, the broth should be filtered and cooled slightly.
- Add 6 g of honey.
- The resulting product is divided into 3 equal parts.
The best defense against any disease is a strong immune system. For amplification protective functions Podbel can be used to cook very interesting dishes.
For quick and delicious salad it is necessary to mix grated raw carrots (90 g) with thoroughly washed fresh coltsfoot leaves (25 g). Add salt and 45 g of kefir.
Soup from pearl grass
- Wash the grass leaves, chop (100 g).
- Peel potatoes, cut, (200 g).
- Put potatoes into boiling water first. And after a few minutes, add coltsfoot.
- Bring the soup to a boil. Then remove from fire. Let it brew for a quarter of an hour.
Before serving, add sour cream (butter).
Podbela leaves also make excellent lean cabbage rolls, stews and roasts.
Kamchuzhnaya grass allows not only to quickly and effectively get rid of many ailments. But also to make the treatment tasty and enjoyable.
Contraindications and side effects
In folk medicine, coltsfoot is very much loved, decoctions, infusions are prepared from it, and juice is also made. However, when using preparations based on coltsfoot, it should be remembered that its leaves contain glycosides. And this is always fraught with poisoning. Therefore, the most important conditions for self-treatment with this herb are compliance with the recommended dosage of raw materials in the preparation of infusions and decoctions, as well as the norms and duration of their intake.
Infusions and decoctions from coltsfoot should not be taken for a long time, more than 6 weeks a year, because harmful substances accumulate in the body. For any disease, even as an expectorant, coltsfoot should not be used by lactating, pregnant women. Coltsfoot is also contraindicated in patients with individual intolerance to the plant. Coltsfoot should not be taken with a delay in menstruation.
Treatment of children under two years of age by any means of plant origin is potential danger. Self-medication is contraindicated.
Prolonged use of coltsfoot can cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, so the recommended course of treatment is no more than two or three weeks. Observe dosages to avoid vomiting, nausea. The plant is contraindicated in exudative eczema, since its action aggravates this disease.
Infusions and decoctions from coltsfoot should not be taken for a long time, since harmful substances accumulating in the body can lead to serious consequences. With prolonged use of coltsfoot drugs, a carcinogenic effect is also possible.
Do not give coltsfoot drugs to people suffering from liver disease. Recent studies have found that long-term regular use of coltsfoot adversely affects the liver. For this reason, coltsfoot is contraindicated for those suffering from alcohol addiction.
Toxic hepatitis (liver edema) is a typical disease associated with poisoning with pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These alkaloids - senecifilin and senkirkin - are found in coltsfoot. These are known to be quite strong liver poisons. Senkirkin, moreover, according to the results of experiments conducted on rodents, is able to cause different forms tumors, including cancer.
Recently, and in the American official medical publications, coltsfoot has been given the status of "plant with undetermined safety." But in the domestic literature on medicinal plants about alkaloids in coltsfoot is still not mentioned at all, respectively, there are no norms and restrictions on its use.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 published a list of plants containing poisons from a group of alkaloids that damage the liver and cause cancer in predisposed people. Add to list dangerous plants included coltsfoot, borage, medicinal comfrey, marsh marigold, black root and a number of others. The harmful effect of poisons inherent in these plants does not appear immediately, their danger is not noticeable. But it exists.
Some countries tried to ban coltsfoot as a freely distributed plant (and even banned it in Australia and New Zealand) due to the fact that the leaves contain alkaloids that adversely affect the liver. And in Germany in 1990, a legislative act was adopted: coltsfoot and comfrey cannot be used as a medicine for more than 4-6 weeks a year. And the pharmaceutical preparations of these plants, containing especially a lot of harmful substances, are discarded. We must always remember that any medicine can become a deadly poison if you do not follow its dosage.
Fashion for self-medication is in full swing. A lot of printed publications have appeared, in which the most unthinkable recipes for self-treatment are collected. However, you need to be very attentive to the advice on traditional medicine. The fact is that not all of them have been verified and justified, and some are completely refuted by modern research. Therefore, before using this or that prescription, including from coltsfoot, you must consult a doctor for advice and permission to use.
Coltsfoot is classified as relatively safe when used in appropriate amounts for short periods of time, although the cumulative effect may cause malignancy to grow. Symptoms of side effects and overdose: fever, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. In this case, you should stop taking.
Be careful in summer. The leaves of burdock felt, or cobweb, are similar to the leaves of the coltsfoot, the difference is that in burdock they are oval-rounded, entire, with a distinct main vein.
Often, another plant is mistaken for the mother-and-stepmother - butterbur, or false white, which is not used in medicine. Unlike coltsfoot, butterbur has larger triangular-heart-shaped leaves on long petioles, with woolly ragged pubescence above, white-felt below. The flowers are whitish-yellow, in baskets, collected in a corymbose-spike inflorescence. Butterbur usually grows on the sandy banks of rivers.
It is necessary to consult a doctor:
– if you have been taking herbal infusions for more than two weeks and without visible effect,
- in addition to coltsfoot, you also take other medications, it is quite possible that they simply do not combine: dietary supplements, aspirin, vitamins, expectorants, minerals, etc.,
– about the dosage of the herb that is right for you,
- you are planning a pregnancy.
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coltsfoot is perennial, whose golden flowers are easy to confuse with dandelions. They bloom and wither before the leaves appear. The leaves themselves are wide, shaped like hooves. The seeds of the plant are soft, hair-like tufts so dearly loved by birds that use them when building nests. If we talk about medicinal value, then it is concentrated in the leaves and inflorescences.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition of coltsfoot is notable for its diversity. Combinations of organic elements inside the plant have anti-inflammatory, enveloping and analgesic effects.
The most important constituents of coltsfoot leaves are:
- Saponins - have a stimulating effect;
- Sitosterol - an ethyl group in the composition of the substance helps to normalize the level of cholesterol in the blood;
- Tannins - give the plant an astringent taste and suppress the negative effects of microorganisms;
- Mucus - has a softening effect;
- Bitter glycosides - improve appetite and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Acids - ascorbic, gallic, tartaric and malic;
- Carotenoids - irreplaceable assistants in the prevention of cancer;
- Inulin - dietary fiber, which is consumed by beneficial bifidobacteria;
- Dextrans - regulate the process of blood circulation;
- Essential oil - a huge amount of ether is squeezed out of young plants.
Among the unique medicinal ingredients coltsfoot inflorescences includes flavonoids, tannins and steroid compounds.
Beneficial features
The mucus in coltsfoot is the source of the plant's most significant properties - anti-inflammatory and emollient. Once inside the lining of the respiratory tract, medicinal leaves form a special mucous layer that protects against the negative effects of bacteria, viruses and cold.
Women use coltsfoot grass when creating cosmetics. Poultices and compresses based on inflorescences and leaves of the plant help to get rid of and eliminate skin defects. The addition of dry raw materials inside shampoos contributes. Medicinal tinctures from the herb coltsfoot help regulate the menstrual cycle with profuse bleeding.
Application in traditional medicine
The coltsfoot has been used in traditional Chinese and Russian medicine for centuries. The plant helps in the treatment of bronchitis, rheumatism, tuberculosis, relieves swelling and inflammation, and is also an effective means of preventing cancer.
The healing properties of coltsfoot are concentrated in the leaves and inflorescences. It is these parts of the plant that are dried to create medicinal preparations and extracts that are sold in pharmacies.
Before using traditional medicine based on coltsfoot, it is very important to consult with your doctor. Pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as people with serious liver diseases, should be extremely careful.
For respiratory diseases
In the case of a dry persistent cough, coltsfoot has a softening effect. The mucous part of the plant creates a special film inside the throat that suppresses irritation.
To prepare an expectorant for dry cough, pour one tablespoon of dried coltsfoot herb with half a liter of boiled water. Put the mixture on fire and leave covered for five minutes, then strain and let cool. Decoction taken twice a day, a glass and preferably before meals.
The following recipe is suitable if a small child is worried about a dry cough during an exacerbated bronchitis. Prepare a large number of medicine is not worth it. The process does not take much time, so it is better to make frequent small portions.
For cooking decoction to treat bronchitis you will need the following herbs (proportions are equal):
- Coltsfoot;
- Melissa officinalis;
- Peppermint.
Infuse the ingredients poured with boiling water for three hours, then strain. Add natural honey to improve the taste. Ready medicinal decoction take a few tablespoons three times a day before meals.
For cardiovascular diseases
With mild heart ailments, decoctions based on coltsfoot help. For cooking tincture that lowers blood pressure, take two tablespoons of dry coltsfoot and one glass of boiled water. Pour boiling water over the collection and leave to infuse for half an hour. Strain and take one glass twice a day, preferably before meals.
At pain in the heart and nervous excitement recommend an infusion of coltsfoot leaves. To prepare the medicine, take one spoonful of dried leaves and pour boiling water over them. Leave the decoction for half an hour. Drink a quarter cup three times a day, preferably before meals.
For diseases of the urinary tract
In pharmacies, there are often curative fees based on coltsfoot, intended for the prevention of diseases. urinary tract. With edema and diseased kidneys, herbal decoctions have a diuretic effect. Folk remedies also help to get rid of hepatic colic.
For prevention of bladder diseases you can mix dry leaves of coltsfoot, lingonberry and bearberry (a tablespoon of each herb). The resulting mixture is brewed for half an hour, and then drunk like regular tea.
To prepare decoction to relieve swelling that accompany diseases of the urinary tract, you should pour one tablespoon of the coltsfoot collection with a glass of water, boil the solution for a minute, leave for about an hour, and then strain. Take half a glass of medicinal decoction three times a day, preferably before meals.
For skin diseases
In addition to using medicinal herbs internally, coltsfoot can be used to create external remedies for skin diseases and blemishes.
Options outdoor use coltsfoot:
- burns;
- Erysipelas;
- boils;
- Furuncles;
- chronic ulcer;
- Mastitis;
- Mastitis;
- Dandruff and hair strengthening.
For the manufacture of remedies for mild burns from coltsfoot you will need to prepare a special medicinal decoction. Take a teaspoon of dry herb plants, pour two glasses of water and boil the resulting solution for half an hour. Let the tincture cool, and then soak a piece of soft cloth in it. Put the finished compress on the damaged area for about five minutes. Do compresses several times a day until the burns go away.
To cook at home ointment for the prevention of inflammation of the skin, take the following ingredients (in equal parts):
- Linden flowers;
- Coltsfoot;
- Pharmacy chamomile.
Mix all the ingredients, pour them hot water and insist five minutes. Then add some sunflower oil and knead the mixture. Lubricate the problem area of the skin with the resulting ointment and leave for twenty minutes, then rinse with warm water.
For hair loss
Coltsfoot is not in vain added to shampoos and hair conditioners. Vegetable proteins, acids, essential oils and mucus, working together, help restore the structure of the roots, normalize the natural growth of damaged hair, add shine and elasticity to it.
To prepare natural hair rinse, you will need dry collections of burdock and coltsfoot. Mix the herbs in equal amounts, cover with water and boil in a water bath for half an hour. Use the resulting medicinal decoction as a rinse after regular shampooing your hair.
Baldness mask can be prepared from nettle leaves, coltsfoot and milk. Take two tablespoons of each plant, pour a glass of hot milk and leave to infuse for about half an hour. Treat dry hair with the resulting product, hold the mixture on your head for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
Application for weight loss
There are many products and herbal preparations for weight loss on sale, but not all of them meet the individual requirements of each organism. The choice of the optimal means is sometimes very difficult. The surest way to lose weight is to create your own daily routine, play sports and choose natural aids.
To prepare a means of reducing excess weight and normalizing metabolism, you will need:
- 10 grams of coltsfoot;
- 80 grams of blackberry leaves;
- 10 grams of birch leaves.
Mix all the above ingredients, pour a liter of water and boil the resulting mixture for ten minutes. Take a glass of decoction twice a day before meals. Tincture helps to reduce appetite and normalize metabolism. However, remember that this is an additional weight loss aid, in addition to using it, you must monitor your diet and exercise regularly. exercise.
Features of use during pregnancy
Unfortunately, internal medicinal products on a coltsfoot basis, it is not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers. The plant contains alkaloids. These substances change the composition of mother's milk and adversely affect the health of the child. Also, alkaloids can terminate a pregnancy. They penetrate the placenta and destroy the fetus.
Do not take decoctions based on this plant during pregnancy. Use of coltsfoot herb during pregnancy causes miscarriage or premature birth with a stillborn baby.
Due to serious harm during pregnancy, coltsfoot herb is banned for free sale in some countries, such as Germany and Australia. Only in rare cases and under the supervision of a doctor is it possible to use the plant externally. These points include the treatment of skin defects, burns and acne. Also, pregnant women can use the herb to strengthen hair and eliminate dandruff.
Contraindications and harm
The healing properties of the plant are praised by many, but about side effects mother-and-stepmothers do not know everything. The most dangerous component of flowers is alkaloids. They are especially worth avoiding for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Do not use decoctions based on coltsfoot in the following cases:
- Serious liver disease;
- Pregnancy;
- Lactation;
- The age of the child is up to two years;
- Any problems with gallbladder;
- Sick kidneys;
- Allergic reaction;
- Special cases of individual intolerance.
You also need to be careful about the dosage of medicinal drugs. It depends on several factors such as age, health status and availability chronic diseases. To date, there are no scientifically proven data that would establish the maximum effective amount of coltsfoot in each case.
coltsfoot is herbaceous plant, which comes from the class Compositae. It has a creeping, branched, thick and strong root system. The active period of growth and flowering of the coltsfoot begins in early spring, after the arrival of the first warming. The inflorescences of this plant are yellow in color, and their diameter is about 2.5 centimeters. During its ripening, the coltsfoot flower becomes fluffy and in its own way appearance it kind of looks like a dandelion.
What diseases should the plant be used for?
Coltsfoot is an excellent remedy, which is quite often used during the treatment of diseases related to the respiratory system. A decoction made from this herb has high efficiency when undergoing treatment for diseases such as:
- bronchitis;
- high blood pressure;
- runny nose;
- laryngitis;
- asthma.
In addition, often decoctions made from coltsfoot are actively used during the treatment of angina. Also, this herb is able to perfectly eliminate spasms and remove accumulated sputum from the body. Tinctures prepared from it help to eliminate strong inflammatory processes that occur in the mucous membranes, reduce swelling, and also eliminate the bacterial factor that contributes to the emergence and development of various diseases.
Due to the fact that coltsfoot stands out among other herbs with pronounced antispasmodic and bactericidal properties, it is perfect during the course of treatment of various diseases that are accompanied by inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system. Also, this plant is often used during the normalization of kidney function. It quickly and effectively eliminates inflammation and acute pain in the body.
Another feature of this plant is that it can have a beneficial effect on the state of the digestive system. Thanks to the use of this herb, there is a significant increase in intestinal motility, and the digestibility of food consumed is also significantly improved. In addition, it should be noted that this plant actively stimulates the free flow of bile in the body. Thanks to its use, diseases such as colitis, increased flatulence can be eliminated. In addition, it should be noted that coltsfoot acts as an excellent remedy for constipation.
Tinctures and decoctions prepared from this herb are often used when a person has high blood pressure. After all, as you know, coltsfoot is able to quickly bring down high blood pressure and actively stimulate the work of all organs of the cardiovascular system. Quite often, this herb is actively used for preventive purposes, as well as during the treatment of such an ailment as atherosclerosis. In addition, it is able to actively remove accumulated toxins and cholesterol from the body.
Decoctions made from coltsfoot are actively used when diseases appear in the oral cavity. For example, such decoctions are often used to eliminate stomatitis, periodontal disease, or bleeding that has appeared in the gums. Due to the fact that this plant has astringent properties, decoctions prepared from it are able to quickly stop bleeding and effectively heal wounds. In addition, it is worth noting that coltsfoot, due to its anti-inflammatory and strong bactericidal abilities, is able to eliminate the sources of infection in the body and relieve inflammation.
The coltsfoot acts as a pretty effective remedy, which helps to eliminate the occurrence and spread of purulent diseases that may appear on the surface of the skin. For example, this herb is quite often used for quick and effective elimination ulcers, acne, dermatitis. It is also indispensable in the treatment of abscesses, the elimination of bedsores or the treatment of corns. When eliminating skin diseases, special baths are used, in which tincture made from coltsfoot is added. Quite often, these tinctures are used for rubbing or making lotions.
It is worth noting that such a plant as coltsfoot can be actively combined with a variety of herbs that have medicinal properties. For example, if you add coltsfoot to a decoction made from nettle, you can get a remedy that perfectly copes with itching, hair loss or seborrhea.
In order to eliminate such an ailment as diathesis in a small child or get rid of excessive sweating of the legs, you can use a special powder previously prepared from coltsfoot. To prepare such a powder, you need to take the dried grass and grind it thoroughly. This powder can be used to treat inflamed areas of the surface of the skin or foot.
To eliminate painful insect bites, you can use the juice squeezed from the fresh leaves of this herb.
In order to eliminate a sharp pain in the head area or quickly cope with a strong fever, it is necessary to apply green leaves of the coltsfoot to the forehead area.
Main medicinal characteristics
The leaves and inflorescences of the coltsfoot contain a large amount of vitamin C and essential oils. In addition, they contain such useful substances as carotene and glycosides. This plant is a good remedy, which is actively used to strengthen immune system organism. In addition, coltsfoot has such medicinal properties as:
- Anti-inflammatory long-term effect on the body.
- disinfectant property.
- Relieves cough.
- Eliminates and prevents hoarseness.
In addition, decoctions of this plant can be used to stimulate appetite in humans and treat inflammatory processes that have appeared on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the fact that this plant contains a huge amount of mucus and polysaccharides, it can also have a softening effect on the entire body and inflamed areas of the mucous membrane.
Use in alternative medicine
- In alternative medicine, decoctions and tinctures prepared from coltsfoot are usually used during the treatment of cough as a pathogenic expectorant. Translated from Latin, coltsfoot means a plant that drives away coughs. Therefore, it is mainly used during the treatment of coughs and diseases of the respiratory system. Coltsfoot is able to thin the sputum accumulated in the lungs and facilitate its removal from the body. In order to enhance the healing properties of decoctions of this plant, which are used to treat cough, you can also add a plant such as thyme to them.
- As a strong expectorant in folk medicine, infusions prepared from the leaves of this herb are actively used. To prepare such an infusion, you need to brew the leaves of the coltsfoot by pouring one spoonful of this herb with 250 milliliters of boiling water. The resulting infusion must be defended for 20 minutes, and then carefully filtered using cheesecloth or a fine sieve. It is recommended to take this tincture no more than 4 times in 24 hours.
- In addition, during the treatment of cough or hoarseness, decoctions prepared from coltsfoot are actively used in folk medicine. For the successful preparation of such a decoction, it is necessary to take well-chopped leaves of the plant and boil them, using the so-called water bath during the boiling procedure, for no more than 5 minutes. Then the broth needs to be given time so that it can brew. Then it must be properly filtered and a small amount of boiled water added to it. It is necessary to use such a decoction one tablespoon per day in a complex, alternating two-hour breaks between doses.
Attention! To improve the removal of accumulated sputum from the body, it is recommended to use complex chest massages along with the use of decoctions and tinctures. Also for more effective treatment cough or diseases of the respiratory system, you can combine the use of medications and tinctures prepared from coltsfoot.
For a more effective separation of sputum (in the event of bronchitis) from the body, decoctions made from coltsfoot should be used. To prepare such a decoction, it is necessary to mix thoroughly in one container, for example in a saucepan, one spoonful of coltsfoot inflorescence, anise, linden and raspberry. The resulting mixture must be poured with one liter of water and boil well for no more than 5 minutes. It is necessary to boil the decoction data over low heat, after which it needs to be given a little time so that it can properly infuse. Then the resulting broth should be filtered and consumed 80-100 grams several times in 24 hours.
It should also be noted that the juice made from the coltsfoot leaf is actively used in alternative medicine during the treatment of the common cold. Many doctors are sure that this juice is quite capable of replacing any nasal drops that are sold in pharmacies. In the treatment of a runny nose, you can use a few drops of plant juice, which should be instilled into the nostrils.
When a cold or viral disease you need to drink plenty of fluids. It is known that coltsfoot has a restorative and stimulating effect on the body. Therefore, when the first signs of SARS appear, you can use teas and decoctions made from this herb. Also, in the treatment of colds, you can combine the use of coltsfoot with honey, raspberries or cranberries.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that such a plant as coltsfoot, although it has a large amount useful properties and is a multifunctional tool that is actively used to treat a variety of diseases, yet you need to use it carefully. First of all, it is necessary to carefully observe and not exceed the allowable daily dosages of decoctions and tinctures that were made from this plant. In addition, it should be noted that the period of use of funds made on the basis of coltsfoot should not exceed 28 days.The use of this plant is strictly not recommended for the treatment of diseases for pregnant women. Also, you can not use the infusion of coltsfoot during breastfeeding. You should also refuse to take decoctions that were prepared from this herb if you experience intolerance or an allergic reaction to this plant.
In no case should decoctions made from coltsfoot, in large doses, be used for a long time in the treatment of diseases. Otherwise, due to the long-term use of these decoctions, the liver may suffer.
You should not use coltsfoot to treat children who have not reached the age of two. If the first symptoms of an overdose occur, namely: vomiting, rash, allergic reactions, redness, nausea, you should immediately stop using products made from this plant.
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